Position detecting system and method
AssigneeVulcan Patents LLC
InventorsLee Felsenstein, Steven E. Saunders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A position detection system for locating an object including a magnetic field generator is disclosed. The position detection system also includes an array of parallel conductors responsive to a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator and a plurality of receivers each associated with a parallel conductor. The parallel conductors are spaced apart from one another by a substantially constant spacing. Each receiver has an associated gain, and the gains of the receivers are configured to simulate voltages induced in conductor loops of sinusoidally-varying pitch.
Claims12
A position detection system for locating an object including a magnetic field generator, comprising:
- an array of parallel conductors responsive to a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator;
- and
- a plurality of receivers each associated with a parallel conductor, wherein the parallel conductors are spaced apart from one another by a substantially constant spacing,
- and wherein each receiver has an associated gain, and wherein the gains of the receivers are configured to simulate voltages induced in conductor loops of sinusoidally-varying pitch.
A position detection system for locating an object including a magnetic field generator, comprising:
- an array of parallel conductors responsive to a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator;
- and
- a plurality of receivers each associated with a parallel conductor, wherein the parallel conductors are spaced apart from one another by a substantially constant spacing,
- and wherein each receiver has an associated gain, and wherein the gains of the receivers are configured to produce a desired profile.
A position detection system for locating an object including a magnetic field generator, comprising:
- an array of parallel conductors responsive to a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator, wherein the parallel conductors are associated into groups of three;
- a plurality of receivers each associated with a parallel conductor, wherein the parallel conductors are spaced apart from one another by a substantially constant spacing;
- a plurality of drivers each associated with a parallel conductor and configured to drive a current through to produce an energizing field, wherein the drivers associated with the parallel conductors in the groups are configured to produce drive currents at a first frequency and in three phases, and wherein the three phases are separated by 120 degrees.
A method for detecting position of an object including a resonator, comprising:
- associating a receiver with a parallel conductor, wherein the receiver is one of a plurality of receivers, and wherein the parallel conductor is one of a plurality of parallel conductors in an array;
- and wherein the parallel conductor is responsive to a resonator;
- and
- configuring the array of parallel conductors to locate the object along a measurement path;
- associating each parallel conductor with a driver wherein the driver is one of a plurality of drivers;
- and
- conveying the detected position.
A method for detecting position of an object including a resonator in a position detection system including an array of parallel conductors and a plurality of drivers and receivers each associated with a parallel conductor, comprising:
- disabling the receivers to avoid saturation;
- enabling the drivers to provide current to the array of parallel conductors to generate a magnetic field and excite a resonator;
- disabling the drivers and placing them in a high impedance state;
- enabling the receivers;
- receiving signals from the parallel conductors produced by the resonator through inductive coupling;
- computing the position of the resonator;
- and
- conveying the detected object position.
A computer program product for use in a position detection system including an array of parallel conductors and a plurality of drivers and receivers each associated with a parallel conductor, comprising a computer usable medium having machine readable code embodied therein for:
- disabling the receivers to avoid saturation;
- enabling the drivers to provide current to the array of parallel conductors to generate a magnetic field and excite a resonator;
- disabling the drivers and placing them in a high impedance state;
- enabling the receivers;
- receiving signals from the parallel conductors produced by the resonator through inductive coupling;
- computing the position of the resonator;
- and
- conveying the detected object position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.